NASCAR DFS Podcast

Playing his second game of the season after missing time with a hamate bone fracture, Alvarez delivered a two-run blast off Brad Lord in the second inning to drive in the only two runs of the game. The 23-year-old backstop’s return provides a spark for a team that’s already off to a great start at 19-8. His power potential warrants interest in most one-catcher formats at least 12 teams and deeper.

Díaz bounced back nicely after leaving Wednesday’s game with a hip cramp. He took over in the ninth with a two-run lead and worked around a walk, striking out the side for his seventh save of the season. The 31-year-old right-hander has struck out multiple batters in each of his last six outings.

Holmes had faced just two batters, recording an out and giving up a base hit before the game was delayed by rain for nearly an hour. He came back out scattered just four total hits over five scoreless innings while striking out two. Holmes would end his day at just 70 pitches, likely due to the extended delay. The 32-year-old right-hander will take a 2.64 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 36/13 K/BB ratio across 30 2/3 innings into a start against the Diamondbacks in New York on Thursday.

Yarns (5’11/193) played in all phases on offense for the better part of three seasons and closed his time at FCS’s Delaware with 844 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, plus 17 receptions for 297 yards and five touchdowns through the air. Yarns only saw multiple carries against one FBS school during his five years of college ball. He gashed Penn State for 86 yards, 66 of which came on a breakaway touchdown, on just six attempts in 2023. Yarns never hit 150 carries in a season and his slight frame won’t lend itself to workhorse duties in the NFL. His receiving production was also good, but far from elite. He will likely start his career as a special teamer before working his way into a third-down role in the pros.

Lord tossed a scoreless first inning and sat through a one-hour rain delay before coming back out for the second. Francisco Alvarez would take him deep for a two-run homer as play resumed to put the Mets on the board. Lord would toss two more scoreless frames before his day was done. He struck out three. The 25-year-old right-hander will take a 4.67 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, and a 13/9 K/BB ratio into a road start against the Phillies on Thursday.

Holden (6’2/205) joined Oregon in 2023 after spending three seasons at Alabama in a limited role. Despite ranking second on the team in routes run (361) last season, Holden finished fourth on the Ducks in targets (54) but did end the year with a career-high 718 receiving yards. He lacks elite speed (4.57 40-yard dash) and stands out more as a zone beater than a receiver who will beat a corner in man-to-man situations, but Holden has flashed in limited contested situations, hauling in 11 of the 19 contested targets (57.9 percent) he saw in his career. Holden is a five-year prospect with a respectable college career, but doesn’t stand out in any particular area. He profiles more as a practice squad player to start his career.